Switch-operating mechanism



I Feb. 6, 1923. 4 1,444,557. 1. SACHS. SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

Fll iD FEB. 4, L922. 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Feb. 6, 1923. 1,444,557.

J. SACHS.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

man FEB. 4, 1922.-

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Mia/1T0)? Arm/Mfr Patented Feb. 6, 1923.

JOSEPH SACHS, F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed February 4, 1922. Serial No. 534,102.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JosErH SACHS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Switch-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism which is especially designed for operating enclosed electric switches, that is, those knife blade switches which are enclosed in casings and are operated by a handle on the exterior, but the mechanism is also adapted for actu-' ating other types of switches.

The object of the invention is to provide a self-contained switch operating mechanism of this character that is simple, compact, durable, smooth in operation, easy to apply 'to the switch blade throwing spindle, and which will cause the blades to both make and break the circuit uickly when the handle is turned for closing and opening the circuit, the mechanism being particularly adapted for actuating the larger sizes of crank thrown enclosed switches but of course-is applicable 7 to small switches.

This object is attained by forming a unit of two members, one, a connecting member which is adapted to be slipped into operative engagement with the switch blade oscillating spindle and to which is connected an over-the-center spring, and the other, ahandle member which is mounted adjacent to the connecting member and has a lost motion rotative'connection there-with and which is yieldingly retained in both opened and closed positions bythe tension of a spring that. is coiled about the spindle and has its ends normally engaged with both the connecting member and the handle member.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows a side. elevation of an enclosed switch provided with an operating mechanism that embodies the present invention, with the handle in the position occupied when the circuit is opened. Fig. 2 shows a horizontal section of the operating mechanism on the plane of its axis. Fig. 3 is a view of the inner face of the operating handle member. Fig. 4 is a view of the outer face of the handle member. Fig. 5 shows a bottom edge view of the handle member. Fig. (3 is a view of the inner end of the connecting member.

Fig. 7 is a plan of the connecting member. Fig. 8 is a view of the outer end of the connecting member. Fig. 9 is a view looking from the outside showing the handle member, connecting member and torsion spring assembled. Fig. 10 is a view of these parts looking from the inside. Fig. 11 shows a face view of the mechanism with the parts in the positions occupied when the circuit is open. Fig. 12 is a similar View with the parts in the positions occupied when the handle is turned so as to tension the overthe-center spring and just before that spring swings past the center and causes the connecting member to throw the blade into engagement with the contact clip. Fig. 13'

shows the parts in the positions occupied after the'switch blade has been thrown by the spring into engagement with the contact clip. Fig.'=-14 shows the handle moved and the oVer-the-center spring tensioned for opening the circuit.

The operating mechanism which forms the subject of this invention is shown as applied to the outside of the casing 1 of an enclosed switch. But one swinging contact blade 2 of the switch is indicated and this blade is adapted to be thrown into and out of engagement with the terminal clip 3 that is fastened on the under side of an insulating block 4 mounted in the casing. In the type of switch illustrated, attached to the blade is a notched plate 5 of insulating material which is engaged bythe crank spindle 6 that extends from side to side of the casing in a manner common to thisstyle of switches. These switching parts being well known,

further detailed description is unnecessarv.

In the switch shown one end of the spindle extends through an opening in the side wall of the casing with its axis in line with the axis of the switch blade. The operating mechanism has a tubular member 7 which connects the handle member 8- with the switch spindle. The connecting member, in the construction shown, has a hollow hub 9 that extends through an opening in the casing concentric Withthe spindle and on the interior of the casing this hub has a slot 10 in its side which is so formed that the hub may be slipped upon the outer end of the crank spindle through the-opening in the side of the. casing with a bend of the crank lying in the slot in such manner that when this member is rotated the crank spindle will rotate with it. ()n the exterior of the casing the connecting member has a hollow hub 11 with a slot in its side which provides two walls 12 and 13. In a recess in the outer end of the connecting member is a washer 14 with an opening which fits and centers the connecting member on the spindle. lrojec'ting radially from the connecting' nember outside of the casing is a forked lug 15. A cap plate 16 with an opening that provides a bearing for the outer end of the spindle is fastened to the side wall of the casing.

Pivoted to the lug is the head ofa rod 17 that extends downward and passes loosely througlra hole 18 in the cap which is fastened to the casing over the operating mechanism. On the rod near its outer end inside of the cap is a loose washer 19 and thrusting between this washer and the head of the rod is a spiral spring 20.

The handle member-8 with the operating lever 22 has a perforation 23 that in the form shown, is fitted to turn outside of the connecting member. The outer edge of the hub- 0f the handle member is notched to provide Walls 24 and% and. the inner edge of I the hub of the handle member has a notch with Walls 26 and 27 and a notch with walls 28 and 29. The lug that projects front-the connecting memberextends through the notch in the inner edge of the handle member between the walls 28 and 29.

Coiled about' the end of the crank spindle in the inside o-fthe connecting member is a torsion spring-30. The inner end 31- of the torsion spring normally presses against the wall 12 of the notch in the connecting member and the wall 27 of the notch in the bandle member, and the outer end 32 of the torsion spring normally presses against the wall 13 of the notch in the connecting mem- 'ber and the wall 24 of the notch in the handle member, the spring being torsioned so that the ends tend tospread or unwind.

With the circuit open the members are in the relations illustrated in Fig. 11. .Upon turning the handle to close the switch the inner end of the torsion springis engaged by the wall 27- on the handle member and carried so as to wind up and "increase the tension'of .the torsion spring, for the outer end of the spring is held during this interval by the Wall 13 of the notch in the connecting member until the wall 29 on the inner side of the handle member engagesthe lug 15. When the lug is engaged a continuation of the-0pening movement of the handle turns the connecting member in such manner as to compressrthc spiral or main spring until it is on the ccnter line. These relations are shown in Fig. 12. hen the movement of the handle has continued suffi -iently to move the lug past the center the connecting member is quickly turned by the release of the over-the-center spring and also by the force of .the coiled spring which is at the same time released. This throws the switch blade quickly into contact with the terminal clip, the parts then being in the relations shown in Fig. 13. When the handle member is turned for opening the circuit the shoulder 28 engages the lug and turns the connecting member so as to tension the main or over-the-center spring. Just before this spring reaches center one wall of the notch 10 in the inner end of the connecting member comes into engagement with the crank arm and positively starts the blade from the terminal clip and then as the movement continues and the main spring is carried past center, that spring quickly throws the blade so as to open the circuit and return the parts from the position shown in Fig. 14 to the position shown in Fig. 11. There is a lost rotative connection between the connecting member and the crank spindle and a lost rotative connection between the handle member and connecting member so as to permit the tensioning of the over-the-center main spring and allow that spring to throw the switch 'blade quickly when it is released and also to permit the blade to be positively started out of the terminal clip when the circuit is to be opened .and before the spring is released for throwing it. The torsion spring assists in throw-.

from a switch spindle when necessary for any reason, are simple, cheap and durable, and perform the functions previously thought to require more parts;

The invention claimed is: Z

l. A switch operating mechanism comprising a connecting member having means for rotative connection with a switch spindle, a handle'member having a rotative lost motion connection with the connecting member, a coiled torsion spring having its ends engaging the connecting member and the handle member, and an over-the-center spring attached to the connecting member and made tense by the engagement of the handle member with the connecting member when the handle is turned.

2. A switch operating mechanism comprisinga switch spindle, aconnecting member having a lost motion rotative connection with the switch spindle, a handle member having a lost motion rotative'connection with the connecting member, a coiled torsion spring having its ends engaging the "connecting member and the handle member, and an over-the-center spring attached to the connecting member and adapted to be lnade tense by the movement of the handle in both directions.

3. A switch operating mechanism comprising a connecting member having means for rotative connection with a switch spindle, a handle member having alost motion rotative connection with the connecting member, a torsion spring coiled within the connecting member and having its ends engaging the connecting mem'ber and the handle member. and an over-the-center spring attached to the connecting member and adapted to be made. tense by the movement of the handle.

4. A switch operating mechanism comprising a crank spindle, a connecting member having a rotative connection with the crank spindle, a handle member having a lost motion connection with the connecting member, a spring coiled on the spindle and having its ends engaging the connecting member and the handle member, and an overthe-center spring attached to the connecting member.

5. A switch operating mechanism comprising a tubular connecting member having a slot adapted to receive a crank'spin dle, a handle member rotatably mounted upon the connecting member, a torsion spring coiled within the connecting memher and having its ends engaging the connecting member and the handle member,

and a spiral spring with its outer end adapted to be pivotally held and its inner end attached to the connecting member on one side of the center line between the axis of the mechanism and the point of pivotal" connection of the outer end of the spring.

6. A switch operating mechanism comprising a rotatable member having means for attachment to a switch spindle, a rotatable member having an operating handle, said members being mounted in axial alignment, a spring directly associated with said members and normally retaining them in definite relation, and a spring adapted to be first tensioned and then released by the movement of the handle in both directions. 7. A switch operating mechanism comprising a connecting member having a lost motion rotative connection with the switch spindle. a handle member having a lost motion rotative connection with the connecting member. a torsion spring normally retaining the connectingmember and the handle member in definite relation, and an overthe-center spring attached to the connecting member and adapted to be made tense by the movement of the handle in both directions.

8. A switch operating mechanism comprising a connecting member having means for rotative connection with a switch spindle, a handle member having a lost motion rotative connection with the connecting member, yielding means normally retaining said members in definite relation, and an over-the-center spring attached to the connecting member and adapted to be made tense by the movement of the handle.

9. A switch operating mechanism comprising a crank spindle, a-connecting memher having a rotative connection with the crank spindle, a handle member mounted on the connecting member, a spring coiled on the spindle and having its ends engaging the connecting member and the handle member, and a spiral spring with one end pivotally held and its other end connected with the connecting member.

10. A switch operating mechanism comprising a tubular connecting member havinga slot adapted to receive a crank spindle, a handle member rotatably mounted upon the connecting member, a torsion spring associated with and having its ends engaging the connecting member and the handle member, and a spring with its outer end adapted to be pivotally held and its inner end attached to the connecting memher on one side of the center line between the axis of the mechanism and the point of pivotal connection of the outer end of the spring.

11. A switch operating mechanism comprising a member having means for attachment to a switch spindle, a member having an operating handle, said members being mounted in axial alignment, a spring associated with said members and normally retaining them in definite relation, and a spring adapted to first he tensioned and then released by the movement of the handle in both directions. I

12. A switch operating mechanism comprising a member adapted to be attached to a a switch spindle. a member associatedtherewith, a spring normally retaining the memhers in definite relation and a spring adapt ed to be tensioned by the movement of the latter member for throwing the former member.

13. In a switch havinga switch operating crank spindle. an operating mechanism comprising two members, one a member connected with said spindle and adapted to move the spindle in either direction by a lost motion engagement with the'crank portion thereof. and the other. a handle inenn her having a co-operativc lost motion ongagement with the former member. and spring means connected tosaid fol-incriminher for imparting a movement in either direction to said member and spindle after the spring has been'tensioned bythe movement of the handle member.

14. A switch spindle operating mechanism comprising two members, one a connecting member having a lost motion engagement with the switch spindle, and the other, a handle member in axial alignment with the spindle and connecting member and having a lost motion rotative engagement with the connecting member, and spring means connected to the connecting member at one end and a fixed point at the other end for throwing the connecting member and spindle after the spring means has been tensioned and released by thehandle member, said movement-of the connecting member being independent of further movement of the handle member.

15. A switch spindle operating mechanism comprising two c.o-operative members, one, a; spindle member, having a lost motion rotative engagement in either direction with the switch spindle, and the other, a handle member, having a lost motion rotative engagement with said spindle member, and spring means having one end connected to said spindle member and its other end fixed, said spring being first tensioned and then released b the movement of the handle member for lmparting movement to the spindle member.

' JOSEPH SACHS. 

